Case Study 22: The Disappearance of Daniel Lamthach
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 08. 2022
- Join me as I discuss and analyze another strange missing person case. Music: "Poison Apple" by Quincas Moreira / All photos & videos gathered online from various sources / For educational purposes only
Sources:
www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news...
kutv.com/news/local/officials...
www.alltrails.com/trail/us/co...
www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanju...
• Search Continues For M...
www.uncovercolorado.com/activ...
www.jamesjusthiking.com/2022-...
Rusty West
August 2022
I hope I can add something. Daniel was a friend of mine in Highschool, we ran cross country together. He has a quiet and genuine personality, just a great guy.
A group of friends and I Backpacked around 40 miles the second week of August. After being dropped off by the train, we took the elk creek trail to hunchback pass before following Vallecito creek to Johnson creek. We then went back out through Chicago basin to the train. We had planned this trip months before this incident.
We got caught in a rainstorm above 11k feet around hunchback pass. Although there wasn’t much lightning, it got cold and wet very fast. Luckily we had the gear to deal with this. The monsoon season is no joke, if you get caught on a ridge-line without cover, you could get hypothermic, or worse, very quick. Although it’s a summer monsoon, there’s nothing warm about it.
What really doesn’t make sense to me, and many others who know him, is what his phone was doing on the elk creek trail and why it wasn’t on him, or even near him. It’s so bizarre. He’s an experienced trail runner so I doubt he simply got lost.
I just don’t know what to think about it. It just doesn’t make sense.
If he did take a fall trying to summit one of the nearby peaks, why wasn’t his body found from aerial crews or even ground crews? That still doesn’t explain why his phone was found on the trail.
While I was backpacking, I was shocked how rigid and exposed some of the high terrain was. It’s easy to see how someone could get caught in a bad situation up there especially during the monsoon season.
I suspect fatigue may have played a factor. I follow him on Strava. He logged an almost 10 hour trail “run” July 15th that took him almost 29 miles through the San Juan’s which included 12,300 ft of elevation. Although Daniel is in great shape, no one can do that without a recovery period after. This isn’t even mentioning the many 10+ mile trail runs he posted in the same area days before his 29 mile run on the 15th.
My best wishes for the Daniel and the Lamthatch family. Please let me know if I can be of any help. I don’t believe I have any additional info that s&r wouldn’t already have as I’ve consulted friends who have been in contact with s&r throughout this incident.
Finding the cell phone reminds me of the Kenny veach case. These trails scare me. I am not scared of the wilderness but the trail itself. A perfect place to be ambushed by god knows what.
@@TransTrump dang it
If you're interest I just posted an update in the comments that I believe answers some of your questions you can find the comment by sorting by new.
How Awesome to hear from Rusty & “Hello Folks!” Hoping they find this young man, devastating for family& friends 🙏
It’s not Rusty ... gullible
lol it's not RUSTY lol
@@robtopping7811 Lol right?
Rusty was clearly in his 60s with a genuine accent that was exaggerated
This is a 20 something faking the accent horribly lol
I think the accent has always been fake- I’ve always wondered what the chap’s real voice sounded like. Maybe he just got a better mic.
@@juliarose707 the original sounded like he was in his late 50’s - early 60’s
The kid sounds no older than mid 20’s
Recently my oldest child went missing after a mental health crisis. I wasn't even told that she was missing for over 48 hours, and she didn't answer any calls or texts nor was she even reading them. Nobody had seen or heard from her, and she had gone missing over 110 miles away. She was last seen, extremely upset, crying, and running down the street of a small city. Very close to a deep, dark river. As her mom, I was inconsolable. I screamed at the police because I thought that they didn't care. I went on Facebook and pleaded for help. Put up a missing person flyer, and prayed. Could not eat, sleep, or anything. For four days my daughter was just....... Gone. I feared that either she had drowned in the river, or she had been hurt by someone. I kept badgering the police. It was Facebook that eventually solved the case. Someone who had seen her missing poster on Facebook saw her walking along the street in the same city that she had last been seen. They pulled over, talked to my daughter, who had no idea that she had been missing for all that time. My daughter has psychosomatic seizures and can't remember blocks of time after, and this is what had occurred. Thank God that person called the police, who called me, and I picked my daughter up that evening..... I was so relieved, and I can't imagine the terror and pain of the parents who don't get any answers at all when their child is missing. My child is an adult, but she is still my baby. And it turns out that the police did care, but in my pain and fear I was lashing out. I am so grateful for a happy ending.
Oh that is so awesome you love and care for ur daughter so much..she is very fortunate to have a mother like you!! Surprisingly not all mothers seem to be that loving and supportive , I hope she can realize this!!
Gosh that’s so scary … glad to see you stayed mentally strong 😓 such a blessing you were reunited with your baby … how is she doing now?
I can't imagine the anguish you went through, but I'm glad your daughter was found! It's nice to see a happy ending to a situation like that. Best wishes to the both of you!
Oh my gosh how utterly terrifying that had to be! I would have been hysterical! I have a 24, 21 and 12 yr old. I can’t imagine what you must have felt like !! Sooo thankful you were reunited 🙏🏻🤍
Glad it worked out for you two. Sometimes Facebook can actually be a positive thing it's rare but your story is proof.
As sad as these scenarios are, it is always nice to hear from you Rusty. Thank you for making us aware of these mysterious disappearances.
💔🙏🏼
THX *Rusty* for keeping his name in the news
Absolutely love these. I look forward to your postings
I watch several different channels concerning missing people. The one thing that I find most interesting is that when someone goes missing, as soon as the search begins inclement weather sets in...strange!
I’ve noticed the same thing. It’s weird. I watch Bryan’s Mysteries and adventures on the trail. So often a snowstorm rolls in right when they start to Search.
Because when the weather is fine, people often get found before the search needs to continue. When the weather gets bad, they have to halt searches and the person rarely lives through the exposure to the bad weather
Do you listen too missing persons mysteries channel?
@@albany-saratogacomicmoviea4108 Yes!
@@usveteran9893 That one is my favorite. But i do love all these channels and fully support them. Especially the state park ones of course.
Nothing I like more than getting a notification that you posted a new video. I missed ya my friend.
Your compassion for the missing is heart warming. Thank you Rusty.
I was just wondering how has Rusty been doing. Welcome back, Rusty.
Not Rusty narrating
@@markwebster5749 Who is it?
Nice to see you Rusty. Sending thanks for the great work from Australia 🏕
I ❤️ Kowala bears
@Youcan
Get back on your meds
@@jakewest2524 I usually never miss a dose
Hiking alone in the wilderness is always a risky bet. Hike in groups folks.
It is nice to see another video. I hope you are doing well Rusty.
Welcome back Rusty. Missed you.
Not rusty lol
So glad to hear you again. No one has a voice like yours. That southern drawl captures us all. Well that rhymes lol. Please come back and do lots more videos because all of us really enjoy them. Again great to see you back. Mark
I don't doubt S&R one bit, but people should know if you go off trail or get lost/injured, you can't count on anyone to find you. A personal locator beacon could save your life.
If you've never stepped foot off a trail, it's still essential to get a PLB in case you wander off. These rescuers are just regular people like you and me. They aren't equipped to go exploring uncharted terrain. Of the "800 hours" of searching for this young man, most of that time was spent in briefings or just walking along trails. He very well could be dead or dying 50 ft off a trail and they wouldn't know it, especially if no path there.
couple lost in the blue mountains a few days ago were rescued, they wouldnt have been found if they didnt have a beacon
@@patrickglaser1560 I'm glad you are not doing the searches!
@@WholesaleTurbos smart
Couple
I've made up my mind to have also, fire making tools, flares, and a green laser pen. If you think that's a joke, watch the videos of people getting tracked to their house using them to prank helicopter pilots. In a light fog, it's even more intense of a light beam.
Damn that's so true! Sad, but true.
Thank you so much, I check everyday to see if you post anything. Stay safe, healthy and happy. (happy is most important)
I pray this young man is found safe and sound.
So good to hear you again, Rusty. I had been listening to your old videos. Now regarding today's, his phone abandoned like that doesn't bode well.
lol it's not rusty
@@robtopping7811 what?!
another good one Rusty. always.... ALWAYS love your videos. thanks for the share, and until the next one be safe Rusty!
Thanks Rusty. I watch anything u put out. Much much love from Canada XO
Love you rusty!!
Absolutely amazing Rusty!!!! We just went on a vacation to Durango and silverton!!!! I read about it in the local papers while there!! We visited from July 25th to august 8th!! We are born and raised and live in western North Carolina near a place called Sylva and I’m amazed by the absolute expanse that’s the San Juan Rockies!!!!! We traveled over that pass to visit silverton and this place he is lost is sheer wild and massive!!! People have no clue the vast wilderness that’s in place there!!!! I have pictures of the road up to molas pass along with many other areas between Durango and silverton. I wish I could send you pictures of this area and explain what we got to see while in this beautiful yet dangerous place!!!
I grew up in the area and yes it is quite vast.
Hey Rusty! Great to hear your voice!
Thank you.
❤🙋🌍
Theory: Could he have inadvertently dropped his phone on a slight detour. Then realized he had lost it, tried to trace his steps in attempts to find it, and sadly got turned around the wrong way?
If he had limited water, in those weather conditions even the healthiest person could succumb to the elements fast.
I really hope this isn't the case and he is found safe, maybe he is fine and waiting to be found, or could possibly eventually find his own way back!
Let's hope so
Hey there Rusty! Good to see another video from you and I hope you're doing well. 🙂
Not rusty lol
Who else slaps the like button even before the video starts
Hi Rusty…. Glad your back always a great day when you drop a video ❤️🇦🇺
You slap it?
I sniff it
Almost. I don't slap it. I finger it. Lightly.
Woohoo! Thanks Rusty! Been a long time
Great to hear you Rusty!
Hello Rusty ..nice to hear from u again…keep going with the reports.🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
What happened to your background music?
Great to hear from you again I love all your videos rusty and I love that voice of yours it is sad about that chap hope he is found soon its a mystery really lizx
Good to hear from you Rusty.
Prayers for this young man and his loved ones. Great to hear from you Rusty.
another storm after the missing. good to hear your voice again man!
Rusty! Good to see ya man 🤘
We just got back from a 2 week camping/off roading trip in Buena Vista and the San Juan Mountains, the beauty out there definitely comes with a price sometimes.
Awesome, thanks!
Yay your back, missed you Rusty
We stayed at Molas Lake and hiked the area to get a peak view. Not sure if it was the fall season shadows rolling in or the extreme wind, but there was something eerie about those woods. I did not want to get caught there at night. It was an easy hike but there is plenty of area to fall from.
🤔🤔I believe it's possible that daniel became lost could have fallen or became injured while hiking in the area hopefully he will be found very soon🤔🤔
All these comments concerning the rate and amount of content rusty post, rather than inquiry re the young man and possibilities of what could of happened. Praying for the young fellow and his family. Grateful for all the hardwork of the volunteers 💯❤️
Yep totally agree with you !!!
Exactly! People are lovers of themselves! Sad sad sad!
🙏🏻 pray for the missing and there distraught families 💙
Enjoy your videos a lot--you have a great, easy voice to listen to.
Thank you Rusty. I feel so bad for Daniel. I live near where he had gone missing. I only hope his family can find some closeure. Take care Rusty.
This isn't the original Rusty
Definitely not rusty
Voice is higher pitched
Yeyyy Rusty we’ve missed you! 🙋🏻♀️
This is so scary how people disappear like this 😩 Makes me so nervous because things like this could happen to anyone … new here HEYYYY RUSTY 🤓
It's such a shame people keep going into these forests unprepared.
have you heard of natural selection?
Natural Selection ?
As in the philosophically bankrupt extrapolated inffered junk science that is evolution ?
What struck me was how small this man is. 5'4" 130 lbs. If this was a woman, I'd be thinking someone carried her off. Anything could have happened though, being out there alone. I hope they find him.
Who knows maybe he got "carried off" too in like a gay thing
@@toy5965 a gay ‘thing’? 🤨🤦🏼
My same stats, I thought he seemed slight. But he was very fit as well.
There’s nutters out there waiting to pick u off..if put alone.
@@sbrooke210 INR?
Good to hear from you Rusty
Long time no hear. Rusty is the man respect from Ireland.
Rusty! Rusty!
As always you’re bringing awareness to the unfortunate disappearances of these individuals. Thank you for taking the time and effort. I’m sure the loved ones appreciate it. 🙏
Hi Rusty, I've missed you! Hope all is well♥️
Excellent video. Very mysterious happenings...thanks for keeping us informed.
So good to hear from you Rusty.!!!.. looking forward to the updates..😎
Hello Rusty! I missed you! 👋🏾💜
Please more 10 person episodes. You’re truly talented. You’ve got a gift.
People do not disapear like that. With no clues afterwards. Too strange.
Hi Rusty! Been waiting to hear new stuff from you. Hope you are well and thank you for bringing us these vids. Hope we will be hearing from you more often!
So good to hear your voice Rusty. Is it completely healed now? Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into making these videos. I felt we got to hear you heal. Bless you! Keep telling the stories. We'll be here to listen.
lol it's not RUSTY lol
Rusty it's so good to hear from you again. I probably listened to all your videos and then i didn't see you
Hey hey! Rusty posted another video❣️
Long time rusty West voice diffrent voice 😳🤨
Glad find you 🙏
a new Rusty video! awesome and AWESOME!!!! so great :)
I am so glad you are still here!
Good to see another video. Rusty your accent has totally changed. Not the same voice it seems.
Bring back the guitar!!!
Love the vids though, i enjoy seeing the notification of the uploads
Love your work Rusty. I'd also love to see CanAmMissingProject/Missing411 cover this case.
Well contact them and tell them then - they have a website !!!
I heard your intro music today and had to see how you were.
Good to see you again, brotha. Thanks for everything as always!
I am going to carry flare gun & plenty of flares. Colored Smoke bombs. Along with my other survival equipment that I carry including a bee hood.
I have encountered swarms of bees of 4,000 or more. I am going to carry a bear banger and bear spray and a 45/70.
You can't go into the wilderness by your self. And a beacon sounds like a great idea. Family can track your movement on every step of the trail.
Also stay away from steep hill sides.
All ways stay on main trail, and always carry bright florescent tape color to mark your trail . I have a lot of good ideas. A small digging shovel is appropriate to dig in, if you need to get below grd level to stay warm.
Hell build a fire if you have too, but survive and come home..
Do your best to take two or three others with you. Have a emergency plan when/if someone comes up missing.
Always have eyes on each other.. if I get hurt or lost, I am building a good smoke fire 🔥 so someone can see that and report it.. I am not going unprepared. I am a regular out doors wilderness person. Take a nice lengthly rope as well..
Make noise out there to warm bears and animals to your presence and take a whistle and hang it on your neck..I have a mirror too..take fire starter.
And don't forget plenty of snacks & food in sealed air tight PKG to keep food smell low...
Always be prepared for a long trip just Incase something happens to you or someone your with. Try having two or three charged phone batteries for back up. Always tell someone where your going and give them a map of your hike or trip. I like the 24/7 beacon to keep watch on a computer if that is possible. A portable ham radio. Have a base camp at bottom of mountain with people watching your where abouts and use that ham radio or fm walkie talkie style hand held ham radios to communicate.. think ahead always...
Always go back to camp site before dark..
You can never be over prepared in the woods on a mountain.. Even when your one mile from home in the mountains..
It's better to be prepared and not need it, then to need it and not have it..
Always take more water & food then you could possibly use..
Ya never know...I take a whole 8 foot bed full of things that I might need just on a weekend camping trip... I hope they find that young kid soon and alive if possible....
👍👍
The number one important item to be carrying is a locator beacon. Period.
Carry all you want but you better have a firearm and a personal locator beacon both not one not the other but both!
@@journeysalkebulan 100% correct.
@@journeysalkebulan I believe I stated that in my comment..
And as well, we have to be on alert at all times of our surroundings and the weather including the temperature.
The list goes on. We can have lots of things to help us stay safe and come home. But sometimes there are circumstances that we never counted on.. so that is why we have to be prepared as much as possible and above all,, or I should say, we should have a tight relationship with GOD and be praying and reading our Bible at home and in the woods on the mountain or camp ground or camp site.. we need to look to GOD . We need to be trusting in GOD, talking to GOD, asking questions & patiently waiting for the answer.. Sometimes GOD just wants us to keep asking..
GOD in His word says we are to seek HIM above all else..
I do that, but I am not perfect, because I do not have my new body yet..and I am still here on earth 🌎.
Prepare your hearts, the time for Jesus to collect his followers is closer then yesterday.
No man knows the hour or day.
Not even Jesus himself, but GOD the Father who sent him.
So always be a child of GOD, waiting on Jesus, trusting in Jesus. . GOD bless you in all you do..🤠🤠
this is so upsetting, i cannot believe he was never found. i remember when this happened, i had read about it on Facebook. i visit the area every year and it horrifies me to think he just vanished or something awful happened to him and there's no trace of him.
Another great story!! So excited to hear your new video. Great voice!!! Love your channel
The voice is not RUSTY lol
@@robtopping7811 Who is it then and how do you know?
Iam sorry that this young man is still missing hope they find him 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I am always happy to see a video by rusty west
A video from you is like an old friend coming to visit. Thanks
I don't believe this is Rusty, his voice is to young. Not bad
I agree. Been listening to rusty for a long time....this is not rusty!!!!
Yeah, this is the other voice again.
Happy you're back rusty 😎
Cool Rusty West,great to hear from you pal.Been too long awhile
Rusty you're the man! I'm in UP Michigan lots of missing ppl up here. Cheers bud 👍
Welcome back, Rusty. As always, thank you for the updates in these cases. It is a mystery as to what happened to Daniel, but I am inclined to believe he might have been a victim of foul play. You never know what kind of people one will encounter and their intentions. Granted though that the weather can change unexpectedly and/or people can become disoriented also, dye yo many factors. Very sad indeed when a person goes hiking and disappears. Thoughts and prayers are with Daniel and his family not knowing what happened to this young man. Looking forward to more of your postings. 👍👍
I wish there was a way to improve SAR especially at higher altitudes or far backcountry. I’m tired of the response to people getting lost outdoors being “well they just disappeared” or “hope the family finds closure” within days of the person going missing. Some may absolutely perish within the first few days because of exposure or dehydration exasperated by high temperatures, but not everyone does.
Not the fault of searchers. What do you expect them to do exactly? Most searches last weeks until there's nothing more to be done. It's definitely not over within days like you think. Also, Most searchers are volunteers who have full time jobs that they have to get back to.
People who hike and camp in the backcountry need to start being responsible and safe in the wilderness. Always tell someone close and trustworthy where your going and when your coming out. Never hike or camp alone and always have a partner. But a personal locator beacon and carry a firearm if able.
almost always bad weather comes into play after one goes missing
I've noticed that, too. Very strange.
I recently came across this video and it does a very good job stating all the facts Daniel was a mutual friend of mine at the time he went missing. It’s saddening me to say this but I believe this was a suicide and I have additional evidence that supports this theory. I want to share this because I think it is important that people know the truth. I read through the comments seeing conspiracies, people blaming a lack of experience and preparedness, and people saying the search and rescue team could have done better which does not serve Daniel or the rescue team justice because Daniel was a very experienced and intelligent individual particularly when it came to the mountains and the rescue team did everything in their control to find him. Daniel did not want to be found.
My primary source of evidence was my best friend at the time who was also one of Daniel's good trail running friends. Out of respect for privacy, I will call this person Quinn. Quinn was the person who first received Daniel's phone in the mail after it was found on the trail. To clarify Quinn was not the one who found Daniel's car at the trailhead. I am no longer friends with Quinn for reasons unrelated, which is why I am sharing this. I honestly may have been the only one Quinn shared his theory with because he told me he didn’t want to tell Daniel’s family because Daniel’s family is of an Asian background where suicide is frowned upon.
When Quinn received Daniel's phone it was unlocked, and he had no way of contacting Daniel, so he looked for clues in Daniel’s phone as to where Daniel was one of those things being Daniel's search history. Aside from seeing Daniel’s research into the San Juan area he also found that Daniel was researching one of his professors who was a good friend to Daniel that also committed suicide. I believe this was renowned professor Michael Shively at Utah Valley University who committed suicide on August 19, 2019, following a controversial investigation. Quinn said earlier in the month that Daniel mentioned how saddened he was by this professor’s death.
Quinn also mentioned to me Daniel's run posted to Strava on July 15 two days before he went missing. You can still see this run on Daniel’s Strava. Daniel did a 29 mile run which took him a total of 14 hours with 12,000 ft of elevation gain. Quinn analyzed the details of this run and said Daniel was setting impressive paces that were faster than he had ever seen Daniel run. We believe this was Daniel’s final hurrah before he disappeared.
As you mentioned the San Juan area was a bucket list destination for Daniel which is likely why he chose it as his final destination, particularly during the week of a mountain running event. The San Juan mountain range is also a very remote and rugged range which would make it the perfect place to disappear in.
As far as Daniel leaving his phone behind we believe this was very intentional to misdirect or make it harder to find him. He normally likes to take pictures with his phone when he goes on runs so he would’ve quickly realized he didn’t have his phone on him and he would have gone back to find it if it had been lost.
This theory also explains why Daniel was only prepared to be gone for a few hours dressing light and bringing minimal supplies. Additionally, it doesn’t make sense for him to have taken a tumble on one of the peaks because then search and rescue would have likely found him.
We will never know what was going through Daniel's mind before he went missing but I hope this helps answer some of the unanswered questions and gives some closure. I give Daniel's family my condolences and I hope he is remembered by everyone as he is now at peace.
Thanks for the additional info. I lean towards his disappearance being either suicide or wanting to start over with a new life.
💜my friend has been following this story too, I pray the family finds answers
losing your phone and tell your friends about it after the hike is normal...losing your phone and get lost yourself is serious concern.
I am wondering if the lost phone is what turned him around and got him lost off trial. Its not the bad thing that gets you into trouble but how you react to it and the decision you make to deal with it. Phone could have been planted to throw off searchers too..
I am amazed by the amount of information you presented, and also by the amount of legitimate pictures of scenery and signs, etc., showing us exactly where everything happened in the story!! Good work! But your delivery needs work. Just talk in your normal voice, Rusty, and it'll sound better. 😃👍👍👍Thank you for all the hard work you put into this! Awesome!
Another guy who wasn't prepared for a sudden change in weather.
Prayers for Daniel to be found
Thank you Rusty 😊
Thank you💐
No problem
Rusty! Thank you.
I was just thinking of you Rusty! 💕 Hello Folks!
Rusty, your voice is so clear
Sure sounds like foul play based on the circumstances of the scant evidence they found.
Good job 👍
Your voice sounds different.
Oh, well, that explains a lot. I always wondered why when you go into the gift shops at these national parks they have T-shirts with an alien face on them saying, "Everyone's gotta eat" and Does not play well with others" 🐲 😁
They are mocking us.
Thanks Rusty
Rusty! Thank again!